LGL Advocacy Efforts Within the Context of the Third Cycle Universal Periodic Review

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique human right mechanism under which the human rights situation of all United Nantions Member States is reviewed every 5 years. 42 States are reviewed each year. Consideration for Lithuania is scheduled on Wednesday, 26 January 2022. LGL contributed to the alternative report joint submission of the Human Rights Organizations Coalition

Will 2022 Mark a Turning Point for all LGBTIQ Families in the EU ?

Lithuania, along with Latvia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia to this day remaining the only European Union Member States without same-sex family rights recognition. Although these countries face multitude of social and political issues which often effectively demotes LGBTIQ equality  to political periphery, LGBTIQ communities and their supporters are becoming more vocal than ever before.

On November 12, 2015 the notorious “anti-gay propaganda” bill was removed from the Lithuanian Parliament’s agenda for the time being. 65 members of the Lithuanian Parliament voted for the proposition to remove the consideration of the draft amendment to the Code of Administrative Violations No. XIP-4490(3), which seeks to introduce administrative liability for any public

Dutch LGBTI activists call for full rights in Caribbean countries

The Kingdom territories follow Dutch laws – with some exceptions One float in particular stood out at the Amsterdam Pride parade on Saturday. The parade, which took place on the canal, had a float present to raise awareness about LGBTI rights in Dutch Caribbean countries. The Netherlands is progressive as a country – it was

MEPs condemn ban and police violence at Istanbul Pride

In a last-minute move, the governor of Istanbul banned Sunday’s Pride Parade, using the month of Ramadan as a justification. In previous years, Prides were also held during Ramadan, without obstruction by the state and tens of thousands people participating. As demonstrators gathered to start the Pride Parade, defying the ban, they got violently attacked

EuroPride 2015: ALDE4Equality advocates LGBTI rights in Riga

MEPs Sophie in ‘t Veld and Izaskun Bilbao, vice-presidents of the ALDE Group, will be in Riga this weekend to join the Europride 2015 and meet key players in the field of LGBTI rights, including the representatives of the national LGBT* rights organization LGL. During the meeting with LGL’s representatives the MEPs will discuss the

Commissioner Jourová committed to LGBTI action plan in 2015

In a debate with the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) on Tuesday, Justice commissioner Vera Jourová confirmed her commitment to create a roadmap or action plan on LGBTI rights. In response to oral questions by Sophie in ‘t Veld MEP and Helga Stevens MEP, Vice-President and Member of the LGBTI Intergroup,

European Parliament votes for UN development strategy to include LGBTI rights

On November 25th, 2014 the European Parliament voted for a report defining its input into the global future development policy. The report contains strong wording on LGBTI rights and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). In 2000 the UN adopted the Millennium Declaration, specifying concrete targets to be reached by 2015: the Millennium Development